Our Top 10 Educational Toys for Toddlers
When you’re homeschooling older children and have a toddler underfoot, educational toys for your little one are a must! In a previous post, I talked a little bit about our Buddy System, and how I have our days planned out with each of the boys having one-on-one time with their little sister. Part of why this system works comes down to the fantastic educational toddler toys we have collected over the years for the kids.
These are our top 10 educational toys for toddlers. And I hope you find something you haven’t heard of to keep your little ones busy!
Top 10 Educational Toys for Toddlers
These colorful building blocks are the best investment I’ve made for educational toys for little ones. They are stacking toys that can be arranged in many different ways. They are sturdy enough to not frustrate little builders but also have a challenge factor to keep them entertained. We’ve had our set for about six months now, and none of the kids are sick of them.
Similar kinds of educational toys include these interlocking building blocks. With this starter set of 600 pieces, you’ve got enough to keep all your kids busy for a while!
Of course, Lego made the list. Lego makes every list! For younger ones, Duplos are ideal educational toys as they inspire creativity and offer hours of engaging playtime.
Some of the more popular Duplo sets are the Number Train Duplo Set and the Town Truck and Excavator Set.
They hold up and provide endless hours of building play. Little Miss loves stacking them independently and loves playing with the boys’ bigger creations too.
Little Miss LOVES to “sew.” Her lacing toys get tons of use, and I love this Melissa and Doug set because they are thick wooden pieces that can stand a little abuse.
I tried the whole printable laminated lacing thing, but little hands can quickly get frustrated at the bending paper. These are sturdy and just the right size so they can be used over and over again.
You won’t regret your children learning to lace and tie things at an early age!
Another winner from Melissa and Doug.
This food takes imaginary play to the next level. The pieces are put together with velcro, and Em uses the little wooden knife to “cut” the pieces apart. She then matches them together.
Educational toys involving play food are good for motor skills, color recognition, and problem-solving, as well as imagination and creativity.
Okay, so I am a Melissa and Doug addict. But have you seen this latchboard toy? I mean really–it’s AMAZING for fine motor skills.
Sure, you could make your own from the hardware store, but that takes a lot of work. This has a bunch of different locks and doohickeys for your little one to manipulate and learn to open. It’s fantastic and will hold their attention. But don’t get mad at me when your child learns to unlock your door. The best educational toys teach life skills AND are fun!
These pegs have been around for forever, and there is a reason why. Little ones love to stack things, and these chunky pegs with their sturdy foam board are just what you need for a curious, stack-happy toddler.
I like this small set because it doesn’t take much to make my crew happy and it’s just what we need without the extra clutter that a larger set might bring.
So it’s not a toy, it’s a video. This video taught all my kids the very basic phonics with no effort on my part.
Pop that bad boy in, and your little one will be singing “The S says SSSSSSSSSSSSSS” all day long. If they get into Harvard, I am pretty sure it’s because this video taught them to read at two years old.
You can also rent or buy the digital versions of Leapfrog on Amazon Prime.
This alphabet puzzle combines cute pictures with letters your child can touch, feel, and manipulate.
They can match the letters to the cards, practice animal sounds, and build simple words. I love educational toys that grow with your child, and this one definitely will!
Also, this is the type of toy that older children love to use while “teaching” their younger siblings. It warms my heart to see big brother singing the alphabet song with little sister.
Melissa and Doug strikes again!
This stacker takes the typical baby toy to a whole new level. There are lots of different shapes for your toddler to explore, and the stacker on the far left even has the added puzzle element due to the shape of the stacker blocks.
Little Miss will stack for HOURS, and I have plans to use this toy for attribute lessons as she grows older.
I love all the EeBoo products I own. They are sturdy and made to be heirloom pieces. The pictures and colors are just stunning.
This particular set is wonderful for tots, because it can be played as traditional dominos, but also is fun for counting, matching, and building. I love how bright and happy this set is!
Read more about totschooling!
We have more to share with you on totschooling and teaching your toddlers, even while you’re teaching older children at the same time!
- Read about how useful sensory bins are in teaching toddlers!
- Learn how to train your little one to have daily quiet time–a lifesaver!
- Check out these totschooling activities and tips.
Wedgits sound interesting and not something that I’m familiar with. We found that Brio/other compatible pieces of wooden train set have kept our little one happy for hours. In the last year, so he has been about four, we have also brought the old plastic meccano which has proved a great investment. Sadly, it is only available second hand.